Keegan Bradley was once kicked off Bethpage Black, but this week he may lift the Ryder Cup at the iconic New York course.
It would be a significant turnaround for the US team captain, who as a younger man learned an important lesson to always pay your green fees.
Bradley’s recent revelation means world No.1 Scottie Scheffler is not the only member of the home team to have had a run in with the law at a golf course.
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Unlike Scheffler at last year’s PGA Championship, however, it was obvious that Bradley was in the wrong.
As a cash-strapped college student at nearby St John’s University in the 2000s, the budding golfer could not resist the urge to sneak on the famous Bethpage Black.
Bradley and his college buddies even had a well-crafted game plan to avoid the watching eyes from the pro shop and clubhouse, until one day they decided to push their luck too far.
“The inside loop you are on the other side of the road, so no one can see you when you are out there,” Bradley told golf.com.
“And when you cross over the road from 14 to 15, you are on the other side where the clubhouse is and people can see you everywhere.
“So, we would sort of play the inside loop, so no one saw you because the course was closed.
“I’m sure you weren’t supposed to do it.
“It was just so horrible not to go over there and play those [remaining] holes.
“Finally, my senior year, my buddy George and I, we went and played it, and we got in so much trouble.
“It was really bad.
“That’s as mad as I have ever seen my coach.
“Finally, my senior year, we were like, screw it, we got to go do it – and it was ugly.”
A police offer was called to the premises to investigate the trespassing golfers, and Bradley got the fright of his life.
It is somewhat of an endearing quality, however, that one of the two most powerful figures in the world of golf this week behaved just like any other golf mad young adult.
Bethpage Black is dubbed ‘the people’s country club’ after all, and it was the first public course to host a major championship when it staged the 2002 US Open.
“People don’t realise, if you are not from New York, just how important Bethpage Black is to the locals,” Bradley said.
“Winged Foot is great, Shinnecock is amazing, but if you talk to a real New Yorker, Bethpage is the home course.”
Bradley would hardly have been the first, nor the last, golfer to sneak on a public track late in the day, let alone a course where the game’s greats have plied their trade.
The now 39-year-old admits it was a “huge mistake”, but it is yet another example of how Bradley has made himself a relatable figure to fans, in a sport where that can be few and far between.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: Keegan Bradley will captain the United States at the Ryder cup/Source: AFP
Unlike most weekend hackers, Bradley is the son of a golf professional and grew up as a talented ski racer in Vermont.
It is the sort of pedigree more akin to a prestigious country club than a public course, but Bradley did not bypass the school of hard knocks.
“He sure as hell didn’t come from a lot of money,” Bradley’s father Mark said in a recent interview with the Ryder Cup website.
“But I had to get him a car (when he turned professional). The mechanic told me his Honda Civic wouldn’t make it out of Wyoming.”
Bradley then recalled: “If you went too fast, the mirror on the side would fly off so I had to tape it to my door.
“Sooner or later, I think one of the maintenance guys at the golf course just deadbolted it on the side of my car.”
Upon making it to the big time, Bradley’s career became a little bit like that side mirror.
He made his debut in the Ryder Cup in 2012, one year after he became just the sixth person to win on their major debut when he triumphed at the 2011 PGA Championship.
Keegan Bradley celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning a three-hole playoff during the final round of the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, 14/08/2011.Source: AFP
Bradley also raced out of the blocks in US colours, teaming up with six-time major champion Phil Mickelson to win three points across the opening two days.
The Bradley-Mickelson pairing became an instant favourite of the pro-American crowd with their passion obvious for all to see.
“I wish I could go 36 more,” Bradley said afterwards. “This might have been the best day of my life.“
But in the Sunday singles, things went south, fast.
He lost to a young Rory McIlroy as Europe came from 10-6 down at the beginning of the final day to complete ‘The Miracle at Medinah’.
The epic turnaround from the Europeans, which was the last time either side won an away Ryder Cup, cut deep for Bradley.
So much so that his suitcase from that week still sits in his garage, unopened and taunting him.
He has said he will not open it until does eventually win a Ryder Cup.
“That week changed my perspective on golf forever,” Bradley said.
“The Ryder Cup suddenly became very important to me.
“During that week, I had some of my best memories coupled with some of my darkest in my golf career.”
MEDINAH, IL – SEPTEMBER 28: Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley of the USA celebrate on the 17th green after defeating the McIlroy/McDowell team 2&1 during the Afternoon Four-Ball Matches for The 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 28, 2012Source: AFP
Bradley received a second chance as a player in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland.
But after winning a match and losing a match again with Mickelson on Friday, he was benched for both sessions on Saturday before losing 5&3 to Jamie Donaldson in singles.
He has not made a US team as a player since as Bradley became somewhat of an outsider.
On the course, he did not establish himself as one of the game’s absolute best as his putter went cold after anchoring was banned.
He went six years without a win on the PGA Tour, and experienced a four year drought until his next triumph.
He won on major debut, but has not triumphed on the biggest stage since.
In fact, he has rarely come closing to winning a second major title, with just four top ten finishes in majors since his PGA Championship victory.
Bradley seemed to be the kind of guy who every time he began to soar, he was dragged back down to earth.
There was no better gut-wrenching example of that than before the last Ryder Cup in Rome.
Bradley enjoyed a career resurgence on the course and he was a popular contender for a captain’s pick.
Only for then US captain Zach Johnson to deny him another shot.
Golf fans the world over could feel the hurt and disappointment of the phone call as Netflix’s Full Swing captured the whole conversation.
As Europe charged to victory in the Italian capital, Johnson was much derided for his failed ‘boy’s club’ selection, and a wave of momentum began to form behind Bradley.
With Tiger Woods saying no and Mickelson with LIV Golf, Bradley was the man the PGA of America landed on as they wanted a younger captain.
They wanted someone who would connect with the people.
It was fitting that they choose someone who knows ‘the people’s country club’ better than most, even if some of that knowledge was illegally obtained.
“I feel like I was made to do this job,” Bradley said when announced as captain last year.
Team Captains Luke Donald of England and Keegan Bradley of The United States pose for a photograph with the Ryder Cup Trophy.Source: AFP
Of course, Bradley’s appointment as captain put him in the awkward position about whether to pick himself or not.
His play warranted a spot on the team, having finished 11th in the US qualifying standings.
But Bradley was never going to pick himself, even though US President Donald Trump urged him to.
He put the team above himself, and made the choice that earned him even more respect.
Perhaps remembering his trespassing incident at Bethpage Black helped sway his decision-making.
It was a reminder to do the right thing.
Those college days will also no doubt flood back into Bradley’s mind this week.
Even though it was a “huge mistake”, perhaps he will think sneaking on was worth it anytime a member of the US team wins a hole on that “inside loop”.
A better line off the tee, or an impressive read on the green, may just lead to a little wink and nod to Bradley.
It may have just been the sort of intel he picked up on one of those late afternoons roughly two decades ago.
